Hobby-horse.



' No. 789,025. PATENTED MAY 2, 1905.

J. G. HUGHES.

HOBBY HORSE. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 8 1904.

0-" dww 6% MW UNTTED STATES Patented May 2, 1905.

PATENT OEEicE.

HOBBY-HORSE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 789,025, dated May 2, 1905. Application filed January 8, 1904. Serial No. 188,248.

To all whom it 77mg concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN G. Hnenns, a citizen of the United States, residing at South Omaha, in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hobby-Horses; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in toy horses, and more particularly to that class known as hobby-horses.

The object of the invention is to construct a horse which will give the appearance of the natural movement of a horse when the rider so desires.

Another object of the,invention is to produce a hobby-horse with hinged legs moving from the knee of each leg of the horse and means normally controlling the movement of said hinged sections.

WVith these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device constructed in accordance with my invention, showing the same in its normal position. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a device constructed in accordance with my invention, showing the same in the act of moving forward.

In the drawings I have shown a single front and hind leg mechanism upon one side of the hobby-horse; but it will be understood that a duplicate mechanism is secured to the body of the horse in a parallel position and upon the opposite side to the mechanism shown in the drawings. The primary object in the construction of the device is to provide a suitable mechanism upon each leg of the horse whereby the same will be caused to move forward when the rider so desires and said mechanism will be normally retained in a stationary position where not actuated by the rider.

Referring to the drawings by referencenumerals, 1 designates a suitable standard or brace forming a portion of each leg and to which is integrally secured an upper portion 2 of each leg. In the drawings there is shown a line 3, which is placed thereon for the purpose of ornamentation or to more clearly illustrate the construction of each leg of a horse. To the forward end 2 of the standard or leg 1 is secured, by means of a hinge 4:, a moving member 5, which is provided at its lower end with a wheel 6. If it is desired, a suitable ratchet may be formed upon the periphery of the wheel 6, and said ratchet may be normally engaged by a pawl 7, carried by the hinged portion 5. Secured to said hinged portion or member 5 of the leg or standard 1 is a spring 8. Said spring 8 is also secured at one end to the central integral extension 9 of the standard 1. Said extension 9 is provided with a roller or wheel 11 at its lowest end. A hinged member 12 is secured, by means of a hinge 13, to the standard 1 and is provided at its lowest end with a flexible pad 14.. Said member 12 is provided with a spring 15, which is secured at one end thereto and at its opposite end to the extension 9 of the standard 1.

In their normal position the sections or members secured to each leg of the horse will appear as shown in Fig. 1. When the rider desires the horse to move forward and jumps or forces suddenly a weight or pressure downwardly upon the body of the horse, the member 5 will be moved into the position shown in Fig. 2, causing the central extension 9 of the standard 1 to engage the floor, and the hinged section 12, which is adapted to engage the floor before said member 9, will thereby act as a fulcrum for the body of the horse, caus ing the same to move forward and rest upon the extension 9. Said extension 9 is provided with a wheel 11. By means of the pawl 7 engaging the ratchet formed upon the periphery of the wheel 6 the member 5 will be retained in comparatively a rigid position, and owing to the action of the springs 8 and 15 the hinged members or sections will be drawn into their normally closed position, such position being shown in the drawings, Fig. 1. As the pressure is brought to bear upon the horse the forward members 5 of each leg will move to a position in advance to that last assumed by said section 5 and the remaining members of each leg will be drawn by the springs into a parallel position with that assumed by the forward member 5. This knee action of the horse is briefly described as follows: The lowering of the body of the horse from its normal position will result in the spreading of the member 5, thereby causing the hinged rear or lever member 12 to engage the floor, and as the pressure is continued upon the body of the horse the tendency is that the forward member 5 will be caused to spread away from the integral member 9, thereby throwing. the weight of the horse upon the hinged or lever member 12. The horse will move forward, throwing the weight of the same upon the integral extension 9, and from such a position the said members 9 and 12 are drawn by the action of the springs 8 and 15 into an assembled position with the forward members 5 of each leg as the pressure is removed from the body of the hobby-horse. It will be obvious that a very powerful spring will be necessary in the construction of the device, said spring being designated in the foregoing description and upon the drawings by numeral 8.

While I have shown the preferred construction of the invention in the accompanying drawings and described the same heretofore, it will be understood that certain other modifications and alterations can be easily made in the construction of the device, and I hereby reserve the right to make such alterations, modifications, and changes as shall fairly fall within the scope of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a body, of legs secured thereto, each leg comprising a stationary extension, a plurality of movable extensions of different lengths secured normally in parallel position with said stationary extension, and elastic means connecting said extensions and adapted to return the extensions to said parallel position, when lateral movement is imparted thereto for causing movement of the body.

2. A hobby-horse or the like, comprising a body portion, a plurality of legs secured thereto, each leg comprising a rigid extension, a hinged forward member, a hinged rear member, and means limiting the movement of said forward and rear member and normally retaining the same in a parallel position.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a body portion, of legs secured thereto, each leg comprising an integral extension, a hinged forward member secured to said leg, said member provided with a wheel at its lowest end, a rear hinged member assembled with said leg, and means for controlling the movement of said hinged members.

4. A hobby-horse or the like, comprising a body, legs secured thereto, each leg comprising a plurality of movable sections secured in an assembled position, and elastic means connecting said sections for controlling the movement thereof, for causing forward movement of said body.

5; A device of the character described, comprising a body, legs secured thereto, each leg comprising an integral extension near its lower end, a plurality of movable means of different lengths secured normally in parallel position with said integral extension, and means for controlling the movement of, and returning said movable means to, their parallel position for causing forward movement of said body.

6. In a device of the character described,the combination with a body, of a plurality of legs secured thereto, each leg comprisinga central rigidextension, a hinged, wheeled forward extension, a hinged, rear, padded extension, and means for controlling the movement of said movable extensions.

7 Inadevice of the characterdescribed, the combination with a body, of a plurality of legs secured thereto, each leg provided with a rigid extension, a hinged, wheeled, forward extension, a hinged lever extension, and means for limiting the movement of and retaining said extensions in an assembled position.

8. A hobby-horse or the like, comprisinga body portion, a leg secured thereto, said leg comprising stationary means in combination with swinging members assembled therewith, said swinging members secured to said stationary means and adapted to move in opposite directions, and means for returning said swinging members to their assembled position for causing forward movement to said body portion.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination with a body, of a plurality oflegs secured thereto, each leg comprising an upper, integral projection secured to said body, a lower integral projection secured to said upper projection, a wheel journaled upon said lower projection, a forward wheeled and a rear lever section movably secured to said upper projections in parallel position to said lower projection, and means for normally re turning said sections to their former position, when motion is imparted to said body for causing forward movement thereof.

10. A hobby-horse, or the like, comprising a body portion, a leg secured thereto, comprising a stationary section, a movable section secured to said stationary section provided with'a wheel and ratchet, and a leversection movably assembled with said stationary section for causing forward movement of said wheel and ratchet-carrying section and the body, when movement is imparted thereto.

11. A hobby-horse, or the like, comprising for causing forward movement of said body a body, a plurality of legs secured thereto, When motion is imparted thereto. IO each leg comprising stationary means, mov- In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my able ratchet means secured to said stationary signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

means, lever means movably secured to said JOHN C. HUGHES. stationary means, and means permitting of Witnesses:

movement of said ratchet and lever means and A. F. RIES,

returning the same to their normal position, R. L. DONLEY. 

